Arts Disaster and Crisis Preparedness Conference 2026

1. Executive Summary
In July 2022, a century-defining flood devastated Perry, Letcher, Knott, and Leslie counties. Amidst this loss, the ArtShine Project was born as a rapid-response creative intervention. This presentation details the journey from a modest goal of 100 "ArtShine Boxes" to a multi-state movement (ArtShine 2.0 and 3.0) that proves art is an essential service in times of crisis.


2. The Origin Story: "A Light in the Dark"
The presentation will highlight the collaborative effort that launched the initiative:
The Founders: Developed by Lindsey Branson (Director of Education) and local artist/musician Jen Tackett.
The Rapid Scale: How an initial goal of 100 boxes escalated to 500 boxes created and distributed within a single week. The Message: Every box carries the vital reminder: "You are Loved."


3. Presentation Pillars & Key Content
Segment -> Focus Area ->Key Highlights The Immediate Need -> Disaster Response ->Replacing lost crayons, watercolor sets, and rhythm instruments for children who lost everything.
The ArtShine Box ->Anatomy of a Kit ->A look inside the bags: Acrylic paint pots, oil pastels, and sketchbooks as tools for emotional processing.
Regional Impact -> "Where We Serve" -> Mapping the reach across Perry, Knott, Letcher, Leslie, Pike, and Floyd counties.
The Evolution ->2.0 & 3.0 ->How the model moved beyond KY
to help victims of Hurricane Helene and continued local challenges.


4. Visual & Tangible Assets
The "ArtShine Gallery": A visual showcase of the white boxes labeled "You are Loved" and photos of the volunteer-led
assembly lines at the Art Station.
Supply Spotlight: A "Needs List" slide showing how simple items (crayons, markers, rhythm instruments) translate into therapeutic tools.
Volunteer Impact: Footage of the "ArtShine 2.0" mobilization,
showing the Appalachian spirit of "paying it forward" to neighboring states.


5. Call to Action: Sustaining the Shine
The presentation concludes with a roadmap for future readiness:
The Amazon Wishlist Model: How digital crowdsourcing fuels local relief.
Direct Support: Encouraging sponsorship of the ArtStation to keep inventory ready for the next "ArtShine" deployment.
Closing Statement: "The ArtShine mission is to illuminate the healing potential of the arts during our community’s most
challenging times."